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74-Z speeder bike

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74-Z speeder bike
Production information
Manufacturer

Aratech Repulsor Company[1]

Model

74-Z speeder bike[1]

Class

Speeder[1]

Cost
  • New: 8,000 credits[1]
  • Used: 1,800[1] to 3,000 credits[2]
Technical specifications
Length
Maximum speed

360[2] to 500 km/h[3][5]

Maximum altitude

25 meters[3]

Armament

Light blaster cannon (1)[3]

Crew

Pilot (1)[3]

Passengers

1[3]

Cargo capacity

3[3] to 4 kilograms[1]

Consumables

1 day[1]

Usage
Availability

Military[1]

Role(s)
  • Motorized infantry
  • Reconnaissance
  • Cavalry
Era(s)
Affiliation
[Source]
"What's the last thing to go through an Imperial scout trooper's head when he hits a tree? His afterburner."
―Joke told by Rebel forces on Endor[src]

The 74-Z speeder bike, sometimes referred to as the Imperial speeder bike due to its use by scout stormtroopers of the Galactic Empire, was a speeder bike manufactured by Aratech Repulsor Company used for reconnaissance purposes, as well as rapid transportation in combat zones.

Contents

[edit] Characteristics

74-Z schematics.

They were capable of reaching speeds up to and beyond five hundred kilometers per hour, and had a flight ceiling of twenty-five meters. 74-Zs were the military variant of the civilian 74-Y. They were controlled by handlebars located towards the front of the vehicle, and foot pedals slung underneath adjusted speed and altitude.

The highly maneuverable vehicles were equipped with sensor and communications devices located between the handlebars, including a comlink and a comlink-jamming device. They were armed with a forward rotating blaster cannon for combat.

They were also equipped with a very powerful boost that could propel them over vast distances in a shorter amount of time.

[edit] History

Stass Allie on a 74-Z speeder bike on Saleucami.

Used by the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars along with the younger BARC speeders, these speeder bikes saw action on many worlds. The bike was first used during the Battle of Geonosis. The 74-Z was capable of being deployed from LAAT/i gunships. On the planet Saleucami, Jedi Master Stass Allie was killed by her own troops while riding a 74-Z bike. It was also used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems.[6]

During the Galactic Civil War, both the Galactic Empire and the Alliance to Restore the Republic utilized these speeder bikes, though Aratech primarily supplied the vehicles to Imperial forces. On the forest moon of Endor, Imperial scout troopers engaged in a vicious chase with Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa after the Rebels commandeered speeder bikes to pursue their foes. 74-Zs subsequently saw use in the battle that followed.

[edit] Behind the scenes

These speeder bikes were meant to be shown during the Battle of Geonosis in Attack of the Clones, but their scenes were cut at the animatics stage. Despite this, one was featured in a 2003 LEGO AT-TE set as part of the Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones line.

Star Wars: Behind the Magic erroneously states the 74-Z is three meters long.

In Star Wars Republic Commando, a 74-z is visible in one of Prosecutor's Docking Bays. It was referred to as "a death trap".

[edit] Appearances

A 74-Z speeder bike.

[edit] Non-canon appearances

[edit] Sources

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 The Traitor's Gambit
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Arms & Equipment Guide
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Star Wars: Behind the Magic
  4. ↑  Imperial speeder bike in the Databank
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Battlefront II: Prima Official Game Guide
  6. ↑ Jedi Trial
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